“Old Cape Cod” is a song, written by Claire Rothrock, Milton Yakus, and Allan Jeffrey, and published in 1957.
The original recording by Patti Page was released by Mercury Records as catalog number 71101; flip side “Wondering.” It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on June 3, 1957. On the Disk Jockey chart, it peaked at #3; on the Best Seller chart, at #8; on the composite chart of the top 100 songs, it reached #7.
A sample of Patti Page’s recording formed the basis of Groove Armada’s 1997 UK hit “At the River”. The lines “If you’re fond of sand dunes and salty air, / Quaint little villages here and there…” sung in Page’s multi-tracked close-harmony, are repeated over and over, with the addition of synthesizer bass, slowed-down drums and a bluesy trombone solo to produce a chill-out track.
Cover versions
Bing Crosby performed the song on his CBS Radio program in 1957. The recording was released after his death.[1] In 1976, the song was recorded by Bette Midler for her album “Songs for the New Depression” (1976). The song was released as a single, where it peaked at #36 on the US Adult Contemporary Charts. “Old Cape Cod” was featured in the 1990 film Die Hard 2: Die Harder, playing on a record player belonging to the Janitor named Marvin. In 2006, the song appeared in the Ridley Scott Movie, “A Good Year” starring Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard. A mid-tempo-version was recorded by Mark Weber in 2008 for his “When I Fall In Love” album. On August 8, 2010, the song appeared on AMC’s “Mad Men,” Season 4, Episode 3: ‘The Good News’. Other artists performing the song include Jerry Vale, Michael Holliday, The Puppini Sisters, John Prine, and Anne Murray
